Fourteen trekkers, including three Austrian nationals and 11 Nepali guides, have been out of contact for three days while trekking along the Saribung Pass route that connects Mustang and Manang.
According to Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal of Mustang, the group went missing on Tuesday after heavy snowfall in the high-altitude area of Saribung Pass, located at around 6,000 meters above sea level near the Damodar Kunda region bordering Tibet. The administration received the report of their disappearance on Thursday evening.
The trekkers were heading from Yara in Lomanthang Rural Municipality–4 of Mustang towards Phu village in Manang, passing through Damodar Kunda and Saribung Pass when communication was lost.
The Mustang District Administration Office suspects that the group may have taken shelter at the pilgrims’ rest house in Damodar Kunda, which is equipped with food, lodging, and other basic facilities. “They are likely safe there, and we don’t believe they’re in immediate danger,” said CDO Bhusal.
The missing group had started their expedition about two weeks ago from Kathmandu through Himalaya Adventure Travel Company. Company manager Deepak Mainali confirmed that the trekkers — three Austrians accompanied by Nepali guides and porters — had not been in contact since October 26, when they departed from Damodar Kunda toward Saribung Pass.
“We received a phone call from one of the guides this morning, but due to bad weather and poor connectivity, we couldn’t communicate properly,” Mainali said. He added that the company has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to help track their location through phone signals.
If the group’s exact location can be identified, preparations are underway to dispatch a rescue helicopter, Mainali confirmed. The team’s plan was to cross Saribung Pass, reach Phu village in Manang, and then head towards Chame.
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